As soon as Paragon Dragon Sovereign finished speaking, countless military officers stepped forward. Every one of them wore battle armor, and their auras were powerful, swirling with force in midair. Some were wreathed in draconic might, some surrounded by the shadows of tigers, and some radiated the chill of death itself. In short, every general qualified to stand in this court was formidable, at the very least a Grand Emperor-vein cultivator, and many had stepped into the God Meridian realm.
âDragon General, Tiger General, the two of you will go,â Paragon Dragon Sovereign ordered. âIf the situation allows, bring back a living prisoner. If not, kill them.â
âWe obey,â the two generals said, stepping forward, one to the left, one to the right.
These were the famed Dragon and Tiger Generals. Dragon aura and tiger might surged around them, and both were built like iron towers. Dragon and tiger tattoos covered their bodies, and as the two strode out of the great hall, the court fell silent again.
âŠ
Outside Dragon City, a huge crowd had already gathered. Everyone was craning their necks to watch.
Because Xu Zimoâs group was still hidden outside the city, no one had discovered them. Only Xiao Anâan stood alone atop the city wall, making her stand out sharply.
Zhao Zhoutian arrived beneath the city gate with four Zhao family disciples. They looked up at Xiao Anâan hanging in the sky.
âShe doesnât look strong,â Zhao Danyang muttered.
âGod Meridian realm,â Zhao Zhoutian said after feeling out her cultivation.
âSheâs not even a Grand Emperor. Coming here to declare sheâll destroy Ancient Dragon God-Empire? Sheâs seeking death,â Zhao Danyang scoffed.
âShe is a bit weak. Weâll see if she has companions, alone, sheâs far too lacking,â Zhao Zhoutian warned. âEnough. Stop talking. Just watch.â
âWho does Second Grandfather hope will win?â Zhao Qing asked.
âAncient Dragon God-Empire,â Zhao Zhoutian answered after a brief pause.
âŠ
High above, Xiao Anâan slowly opened her eyes. She had sensed something. She raised her head toward the palace.
The Dragon and Tiger Generals had already left the palace, one turning into a massive white tiger, the other into a black dragon. They soared through the sky toward her. Before their forms even arrived, their dragon roars and tiger cries shook the heavens. Their oppressive beast might rolled across the land.
Hearing those roars, the crowd immediately understood.
âItâs our Dragon and Tiger Generals!â
âBoth are God Meridian cultivators, far stronger than the fallen White General. That little girl is doomed.â
âThe Dragon and Tiger Generals are beast-form warriors, peerless great fiends. Together, they can fight even a Grand Emperor. Theyâre the top of all Ancient Dragon generals.â
âRight, aside from the national preceptor, the Dragon and Tiger Generals are the strongest in our empire. Of course, that doesnât include the hidden ancestors.â
People murmured in excitement as the two generals finally appeared, dragon might surging and tiger roars shaking the sky. Hovering above the city, they glared down.
âDragon and Tiger of Ancient Dragon God-Empire are here!â Tiger General barked. âWhere are the rats of True Martial Sacred Ground?â
No sooner had he spoken than a thunderous blade aura tore through the sky toward them.
Dragon General roared. A massive dragon tail unfurled behind him and whipped out, shattering the incoming strike.
Tiger General fixed his gaze on Xiao Anâan and lunged. His claws stretched into deadly talons that shredded the air like paper.
He moved fast, within a heartbeat he was in front of her.
His claws clashed with the True Martial Sword.
Bang! Sparks exploded. Both were forced back.
âNot bad, little girl,â Tiger General sneered. âYour blade is nice, give it to me.â
Xiao Anâan coldly snorted. âYou wonât live long enough to take it. This blade exists to cut off your head.â
With that, her God Meridian aura exploded. The True Martial Sword unleashed chained waves of blade energy that ripped across the sky.
Boom! Xiao Anâan charged.
Tiger General was strong, but with no weapon in hand, his claws were at a disadvantage. A single clash left one of his claws shaved down by half.
His expression changed drastically.
âHelp me! This brat is harder to handle than she looks!â
Dragon General no longer watched from the side. He joined the fray, and the battle erupted with full force. The two generals together indeed pressured Xiao Anâan, but her True Martial Sword was too sharp to meet head-on. None of the three could overpower the others immediately.
The crowd murmured in awe.
âSheâs incredible. Even Dragon and Tiger together canât take her down.â
Some refused to accept it.
âDonât get carried away. Ancient Dragon God-Empire has far more than just two generals. And what does True Martial Sacred Ground have?â
Meanwhile, on the True Martial Sacred Groundâs side, Willow Ancestor, having absorbed the power of the Leaf of Life, looked decades younger. His eyes shone, his wrinkles had vanished, and even his God Meridian aura had grown.
âConfident in reaching Grand Emperor?â Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
Willow Ancestor nodded, then shook his head. âIâll try, but I should be cautious.â
He lifted his gaze to the sky, watching Xiao Anâan fight two opponents at once.
âShould I help her?â he asked.
âNo need,â Xu Zimo said. âTheyâre just two trash God Meridians. If she canât kill them, then True Martial Saint Sovereign misjudged her.â
He glanced at Willow Ancestor. âAs for you⊠donât you want to face your old rival again?â
Willow Ancestorâs eyes sharpened instantly, his aura shifting.
âNational Preceptor Situ,â he said, pronouncing each word with weight.
In ten recorded battles between them, he had lost all ten, utterly humiliating defeats. Because of those losses, True Martial Sacred Ground had been forced to submit to Ancient Dragon God-Empire and pay yearly tribute, the equivalent of ceding territory in ancient times. It was a humiliation carved into Willow Ancestorâs heart.
âI think the reason I could never break through to Grand Emperor is him,â Willow Ancestor said quietly. âSitu Zhaixing is my inner demon. My Dao Heart is unwilling, so it isnât clear, and thus I cannot advance.â
âBut now, with the Leaf of Life granting me a young body anew⊠what harm is there in fighting him once more?â
Ambition burned in his eyes. His long-silent fighting spirit, like his rejuvenated body, had come back to life.